Peach pitting device



Nov. 18, 1952 L VANDERHOOFVEN 2,618,305

PEACH FITTING DEVICE IN VEN TOR.

Nov. 18, 1952 vANDx-:RHoor-'VEN 2,618,305

PEACH FITTING DEVICE:

Filed Feb. 20, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 D N wvl .w\N\

3V: m J.\ wm .Q Q QN NNN QMN IN VEN TOR. oa... a) Attorneys Leonard Vanderhaofvan BY @uw and NOV- 18, 1952 1 vANDERHoor-VEN PEACH FITTING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 20, 1950 Leonard Vander/:aofven INVENTOR.

Nov. 18, 1952 L. vANDERHooFvEN PEACH FITTING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 20, 1950 uw. www www EMI.

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Patented Nov. 18, 1952 4UNITEDy STATES PATENT oFFlfcE 1` Claim. 1.

Thisinvention appertainsxto-a device for cuttingpeaches and similar fruits into halves andextracting the seeds or pits therefrom.

A primary object of the instantl invention is to.cleanly and smoothly cuta -peach or similar fruit havngseeds therein in half and remove v the stone or pit therefrom, without tearing parts of the fruit and without shredding'any of the fruitl adjacent vto the pit.

Another important object of this invention VVis.

to facilitatethe removal of pits from peaches byl initially forming two vertically aligned incisions in the peaches and then, by means of vertically reciprocable cutter, halving the peaches and forcing the pits downwardly from thehalves.

Another important object of this inventionis to reduce the labor and operating space attendant with the halving and pitting of peaches or similar fruit and to increase production.

These and ancillary objects and structural features of merit are attained by this invention, the preferred embodiment of which is set forth in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an enlarged side elevational View ofthe machine, constructed in accordance with theprinciples of this invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view, taken on line 2--2 of` Figure l;

Figure 3 is a bottom View, with thefruit carriers or'sectonal cups removed from the rotary chains or conveyors;

Figurel is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view, with portions shown in elevation;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional View taken onthe line 5--5 of Figure 4;

Figure '6 isa transverse sectional view taken onthe line 6--6 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is an enlarged front elevational view of one of the fruit carriers; and

Figure B is a detail sectional view taken on the line 8^8 Vof Figure 1.

This invention relates to a machine for halving and pitting peaches, which are used for fancy canning. Peaches of this type must be cut cleanly and smoothly, without any tearing of the fruit.`

The machine is entirely automatic and the fruit is carried by fruit carriers mounted on rotary chains through a pair of vertically aligned fixed knives, which form vertically aligned incisions in the upper and lower portions of the fruit. A vertically reciprocable cutter and pitter is thenuforced downwardly on to the fruit and the fruit'is halved,.with the pit or. stone .ejected and forced downwardly from the halves..`

The machine, generally designated by the nu. meral Il), includes a pair of longitudinallyV ex'- tending parallel side bars l2 andA I4,lwhich' are connected at their opposing ends by cross-barsV IE and I3 and a center bar- 20. Standardsor supporting legs 24 are bolted attheir upper terminals to the cross bar I6 and standards .26.-arel bolted adjacent their lower ends to the opposite ends of the side bars adjacent. to the cross'v bar I8. .The standards 26 projectupwardly be-, yond the side bars and serve as asupport for a horizontally disposed platform 28', onwhich a motor 38 is mounted. An arm 32` extends outwardly from one of thestandards 2B'andja shaft 36 is rotatably journal'ed thereon, the shaft supporting a large pulley wheel `36, which is con-4 nected by a belt 38 to a pulley 40 on the .-arma A smaller pulley l2l A shaft 52 is transversely journaled at theopposite ends of the side bars I2'and Ill 'and Sprockets 56andis mounted in bearings 54. 58 are disposed on the shaft 52 and complemen-- tary sprockets 6U and 62 are mounted onthe. An endless chain 64 connects the` sprockets 58 and 60 anda parallel endless chain shaft 48.

66 connects the sprockets 56 and 62. The chains are rotated by means of the motor Sllfthrough the belt transmission means connected'to Vthe shaft 48 and fruit carriers 63"are fixed on thechains, at longitudinally spacedpoints thereon.V

The fruit carriers 63 include cooperating cup sections lrand 68. The sections 61 and 68 are concavo-convex and are formed with upwardly and outwardly ared lips 1U. The outer surface of the sections are enlarged and formed with a vertical groove T2 to receive a strap 14 bolted thereto by a bolt 16. The strap 'I4 is connected to the link of the chains 64 and 66v to secure the sections thereto. The sections Gl and 68 cooperate to form the sectional cups or fruit carriers 63. Thus, as the chains are rotated, the carriers are moved in an upstanding position along the upper reaches of the chains, as seen in Figure 2. The fruit is deposited in the carriers, at the end of the frame adjacent to the shaft 52 and may be either manually or automatically disposed in the carriers. A U-shaped The pulley.v

3 safety bar 18 is pivotally mounted to the ends of the side bars to protect an operator, if the carriers are manually loaded.

A pair of elongated bumper bars 80 and 82 extend on the upper reaches of the chains and overlie an elongated plate 84 which is secured between the side bars. The bumpers are urged inwardly relative to the chains by resilient means and hold the chains in parallel spaced relationship for the purpose of moving the sections of the carriers closer together, so that the fruit therein is accurately moved through a pair of vertically spaced and aligned fixed cutters. The bars 80 and 82 are formed with laterally extending apertured ears 80 and 88 through which one terminal of a pair of cranks 90 and 92 is pivoted. The cranks 90 and 92 are rotatably journaled in the side bars |2 and I4 and arms 94 and 96 are clamped on the depending ends thereof, the arms extending inwardly from the side bars and being connected by a spring 98. Thus, theV upper ends of the cranks are normally urged inwardly relative to each other by the spring 98 to force the ends of the bars 80 and 82 relative to each other and urge the chains inwardly. A similar pair of crank arms |90 and |02 are rotatably journaled in the side bars l2 and I4 and longitudinally spaced from the cranks 90, 92. The upper ends of the crank arms and |02 are disposed in elongated slots |04 and |06 in lateral ears |08 and ||9 on the front ends of the bars 89 and 82. Arms ||2 and II4 are clamped on the lower terminals of the cranks |00 and |02. Springs IIb` and i|8 are anchored at one end to the arms and at their opposing ends to the opposing ends of the transverse section |20 of a T-shaped anchoring member |22, which supports a resiliently mounted xed cutter. In this manner, the opposite ends of the bars 80 and 82 `are urged inwardly.

As seen in Figures 4 and 5, a U-shaped bracket |26'is mounted on the side bars I2 and |4 and extends vertically therefrom. The U-shaped bracket |26 is provided with a web portion |28, which transversely overlies the plate 84 and is severed at its center to form sections |30 and |32 which terminate at their inner ends in upstanding apertured Iianges |34 and |86. A knife |38 is mounted on apivot pin |40, which extends through the flanges |34 and |35. formed with sharpened side edge |42 and an opening |44 is formed in the upper portion thereof above the pivot |40. The opening |44 is provided to receive one end of a spring i916, the opposing end of the spring being secured to a cross bar |48 and extends rearwardly of the pivot |40 and is carried by the bracket |28. In this manner, the lower end of the knife is urged downwardly, with the cutting edge |42 held in a downwardly inclined plane. Y

A cutter |54 is disposed vertically in an open" ing |52 formed inthe plate and is provided with an upper sharpened edge |56. The cutter is secured to the upper surface of the longitudinal section |22 of the T-shaped member, shown in Figure 3, and extends vertically therefrom. The transverse section |20 of the T-shaped member is formed as a sleeve and is journaled on a transverse shaft |58, the shaft being disposed between the side bars |2 and I4. A pin |60 extends downwardly from the outer end of the section |22 Yand a spring |92 is concentrically disposed above the pin, the lower end of the pin being exteriorly threaded to receive an adjusting nut |84, the nut abutting against a washer |66 which seats The knife is 4 the lower end of the spring. The spring functions to hold the cutter or knife |54 in an upstanding position, it being noted that the cutting edges |42 and |56 are disposed in intersecting planes and a considerable portion of the cutting surface |42 and the cutting surface |56 are vertically aligned. The knives or cutters are positioned in the center of the base or platform 84 and are disposed between the two chains', so that the sections of each carrier pass on the opposing sides of each of the knives and the fruit in each carrier is formed with an incision in its upper and lower portions.

Means is Vdisposed rearwardly of the fixed cutters or knives |38 and |54 for completing the halving of the fruit carried by the carriers and for ejecting the pits from the fruit. The means |50 includes a pair of levers |10 and |12 pivotally mounted at their lower ends to a pair of upstanding ears I14 and |16 on the side bar |4 and a similar pair of levers |18 and |80 pivotally a'ixed at their lower terminals to upstanding v ears |82 on the side bar |2. The pairs of bars are disposed in alignment and extend upwardly from the side bars, the levers |10 and |80 being connected by a transverse bar |84.

A pair of cross bars |86 and |88 join the upper terminals of the levers and |10 and the levers |10 and |12. A U-shaped cradle or support |90 extend from the cross bars |86 and |88 by means of fasteners |92 secured to the lateral edge |94 and |96 on the support. A cutter and pitter |98 is carried by the central portion of the support or bracket and includes a body portion 200 fastened to the support or cradle |90 and parallel straight legs or limbs 202 and 204 which terminate at their outer free ends in sharpened The cutter is movable terminals 206 and 208. vertically through a longitudinal opening 2I0 formed in the platform 84 and extends between guide plates 2| 2.

A shaft 2I4 is rotatably journaled in bearings 2|9 and 2I8 on the underside of the side bars I4 and |6 and is provided at its opposing ends with cranks 220 and 222. A connecting lever 224 is pivotally secured between thelever |18 and the crank 220. A similar connecting lever 228 is pivoted between the crank 220 and the lever |12. A pitman rod 228 Vis formed with sleeve ends, one of the ends being disposed on a wrist pin 230 extending from the crank 220 and the opposing end being mounted on a wrist pin 232, which extends from an arm 234 carried by the drive shaft 48. Thus, as the chains are moved to advance the carrier through the xed knives |38 and |94, the supporting levers |10, |12, and |18, |80 for the cutter and pitter |98 are swung downwardly' through the actuating means,'consisting of the pitman rod, the crank, so that the cutter is moved vertically through the opening 2I0 in the platform. As seen in Figure 4, the machine is timed so that the cutter moves downwardly through the opening 2I0 at the same time that aV carrier is positioned over the opening.

Means is provided for moving andretaining j the chains inwardly, adjacent to the slot 2I0 and includes a pair of arms 236 and 238 formed at their upper ends with transversely disposed nat runners or bars 240 and 242. The arms 236 and 238 extend vertically through openings 242 in the side bars. A similar pair of arms 244 and 246 are provided and are connected to the bars 240 of bars are similarly pivoted on pivot pins 250. Rods 252 and 254 are secured transversely between the lower ends of the sets of bars and springs 256 and 258 are anchored at one end of the rods. The opposing ends of the springs are anchored to a depending ange 266 on the outer end of a laterally extending bracket 262. The springs urge the sets of bars inwardly upon their pivots 248 and 256 and urge the bars 246 and 242 into engagement with the chains to hold them inwardly, as the carriers move past the vertically reciprocating cutter |98.

A U-shaped stop or guard G projects upwardly from the side bars and in advance of the cutter and pitter |98, the stop being provided to prevent the cutter assembly from swinging forwardly, at any time, and possibly injuring theoperator.

It can thus be seen that a practical, economical and compact device has been provided, whereby fruit may be halved and pitted in a manner so as not to shred or tear the fruit and in a completely automatic operation.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

In a machine for cutting and pitting peaches and similar fruit, a frame, a pair of parallel rotary chains mounted on the frame, sectional fruit carriers carried by the chains and including oooperating sections on each chain, a pair of vertically spaced and aligned iixed knives mounted on the frame and positioned between the chains and parallel therewith, said knives being positioned to intersect the sections of each carrier and form incisions in the upper and lower portions of the fruit held therein, a reciprocable U-shaped cutter mounted on the frame behind the knives to cut the front and back of the fruit in alignment with the upper and lower incisions and thereby halve the fruit and force the pits downwardly therefrom, means connected to the drive means for the chains for actuating the cutter, said last means including pivoted levers supporting the cutter and mounted on the frame, a crank pivoted on the frame and connected to the levers, and a pair of spring connected guide members swingably mounted on the frame and extending past the knives and toward the cutter, said guide members being arranged to engage and retain the cooperating sections toward each other as the cooperating sections are moved past the knives and toward the cutter.

LEONARD VANDERHOOFVEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 466,453 Burns Jan. 5, 1892 1,261,704 Clemson Apr. 2, 1918 1,334,162 Moltzner Mar. 16, 1920 1,443,621 Fowler Jan. 30, 1923 1,526,635 Groves Feb. 17, 1924 2,403,516 Gaddini July 9, 1946 2,498,962 Patterson Feb. 28, 1950 2,514,120 `Chenette July 4, 1950 2,556,266 Furtado June l2, 1951 

